Beatles - Red 1962-1966 and Blue 1967-1970
by Nick Dent-Robinson
published: 5 / 12 / 2023

Label:
Select Label
Format: N/A
intro
Nick Dent-Robinson looks at The Beatles’ classic greatest hits Red and Blue albums which have just been reissued for their 50th Anniversary in expanded and remastered deluxe editions.
It is half a century ago that The Beatles' Red and Blue albums were released, quickly becoming known as the ultimate greatest hits compilations. The two double LPs brought together the highlights of the Beatlemania era (1962 – 1966, in the Red album) with the twists and turns of the late 1960s through to the 1970 demise of the group (the 1967-1970 Blue album). In 1973 none of the four Beatles showed much interest in this greatest hits release as all were too consumed with the launch of solo careers and various legal battles over their business interests. But the Red and Blue albums were a perfect introduction to the Beatles' incredible catalogue of songs – as Noel Gallagher tells all who will listen, these albums ushered in his own – and many of his generation's – lifelong love of the Fab Four's work. Following on from the recent release of the “last ever” Beatles single, ‘Now and Then’, the Red and Blue retrospective albums are now getting the deluxe reissue treatment. With 21 newly-added tracks plus a fresh 2020s-era production sheen that uses the same state-of-the-art “demixing” technology that transformed the decades-old demo of the new “last ever” Beatles single, the reissued version of the two albums is impressive. In many ways the early Beatles songs on the Red album seem more iconic and ear-catching– from ‘Love Me Do’ through ‘She Loves You’ to ‘Eleanor Rigby’ and ‘Yellow Submarine’. Originally only Lennon-McCartney songs featured on the Red album but this has now been remedied with the addition of George Harrison's ‘Taxman’ and ‘If I Needed Someone’. Utilising the technology employed by Peter Jackson in making 2021's ‘Get Back’ documentary film, producer Giles Martin (son of original Beatles producer George) has painstakingly isolated individual instruments from old tapes and remixed them whilst staying faithful to the original arrangements and retaining the feel of a young, ambitious rock group playing live in the studio. The results are impressive. McCartney's bass and Lennon's harmonic are more vivid (for example on ‘Love Me Do’) and Ringo Starr's drums have renewed punch and vigour on ‘A Hard Day's Night’ and ‘Can't Buy Me Love’. George Harrison's superb guitar work is more stunning than ever throughout the album and the string quartet on ‘Yesterday’ is richer, too. The revamped Blue album is a great listen, also – with new mixes of ‘Revolution’ and three numbers from the 1967 ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ EP plus an even more incredible version of ‘Strawberry Fields Foreve’”. But, perhaps because George Martin's original production values on these later Beatles recordings were already exceptional, the new version of the Blue album doesn't quite have the same impact as the Red. Though, with ‘Now And Then’ also included, the new Blue album is still well worth adding to anyone's collection!
Track Listing:-
Also In ReView
Andreas Dorau (2022)
Andrew Gold (2023)
Anthony Moore (2022)
Bark Psychosis (2018)
Bert Jansch (2020)
Bert Jansch (2019)
Beth Orton (2014)
Big Eyes Family (2021)
Billy Idol (2018)
Bitter Springs (2021)
Blind Mr Jones (2015)
Blondie (2022)
Blue Nile (2014)
Bodines (2023)
Boyracer (2023)
Breathless (2016)
Brinsley Schwarz (2017)
Cardiacs (2014)
Chvrches (2014)
David Bowie (2022)
David Gray (2020)
Death and Vanilla (2016)
Donald Fagen (2021)
Doug Dillard Expedition (2024)
Earthworks (2020)
Flamin Groovies (2015)
Flaming Stars (2024)
Gene Clark (2019)
George Harrison (2024)
Giant Sand (2018)
Gomez (2018)
Gong (2015)
Grace Jones (2016)
Grace Jones (2014)
Graham Day and the Forefathers (2019)
Hawks (2021)
Hawkwind (2022)
Hot Pepper (2018)
Ian A. Anderson (2021)
Ian Dury (2021)
Iron Butterfly (2014)
Jesse Garon and The Desperadoes (2025)
John Cooper Clarke (2016)
Joni Mitchell (2021)
Keith Richards (2022)
Lapre (2020)
Lemonheads (2022)
Loft (2025)
Loft (2021)
Madness (2014)
Madonna (2024)
McCarthy (2015)
Mercury Rev (2019)
Miscellaneous (2020)
Miscellaneous (2014)
Monochrome Set (2015)
Mothmen (2015)
Motorpsycho (2015)
New Leaf (2022)
New Musik (2023)
One Thousand Violins (2023)
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (2015)
Orchids (2023)
Party Day (2021)
Pele (2017)
Phil Alvin (2015)
Phil Ochs (2016)
Primitives (2015)
Prolapse (2022)
Roger Mcguinn (2018)
Rubik (2021)
Saloon (2025)
Sorrow (2018)
T. Rex (2023)
Television Personalities (2018)
Terry Allen (2016)
Thin Lizzy (2023)
Townes Van Zandt (2015)
Trashmen (2020)
Ty Segall (2022)
UB40 (2015)
Various (2022)
Various (2022)
VIPS (2020)
Wolfhounds (2015)
Zz Top (2018)
Play in YouTube:-
Have a Listen:-
Picture Gallery:-

profiles |
Now and Then (2023) |
![]() |
Nick Dent-Robinson reflects upon the Beatles' much anticipated new single, 'Now and Then'. |
In Romford (2022) |
Get Back (2021) |
Get Back (2021) |
It Was Fifty Years Ago Today! The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper and Beyond (2017) |
Interview (2015) |
1939-2015 (2015) |
A Personal Tribute (2015) |
Interview (2015) |
If You Like the Beatles...Here are Over 200 Bands, Films, Records and Oth (2012) |
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah: The Beatles and Bournemouth (2011) |
Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Rosemont, Illinois (2010) |
Beatles Part 2 (2010) |
Beatles Part 1 (2009) |
Label Features (2007) |
favourite album |
Revolver (2022) |
![]() |
Nick Dent-Robinson examines The Beatles' influential 1966 album 'Revolver', which has recently been re-released in a newly mixed version. |
features |
1963 (2022) |
![]() |
In 'Raging Pages' guest reviewer Eoghan Lyng contends that author Dafydd Rees ‘apes the lexicon of the era’ when focusing on the Beatles history in his new book ' The Beatles 1963: A Year in the Life'. |
The Image That Made Me Weep (2021) |
reviews |
Love (2006) |
![]() |
Excellent remixed and reworked collection of Beatles classics by their fromer producer George Martin and his son |
most viewed articles
current edition
Pennyblackmusic - Writers and Photographers' Albums of the Year 2024Peter Perrett - In Dreams Begin Responsibilities Interview Part One
Man From Delmonte - Interview
Clive Langer - Interview
Pennyblackmusic - Book of the Year Award 2024
Johnnie Johnstone - Interview
Marianne Faithfull - Reflections
Laura Nyro - Profile
Johny Brown - Corpse Flower
Vinyl Stories - Vinyl 2024
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPMichael Stuart Ware - Pegasus Epitaph: The Story of the Legendary Rock Group Love
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Marianne Faithfull - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Henry McCullough - Interview
Peter Paul and Mary - Interview with Peter Yarrow
Marianne Faithfull - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Dorie Jackson - Stupid Says RunRingo Starr - Look Up
Beabadoobee - This is How The World Moves
Pixie Lott - Encino
Dusty Springfield - The BBC Sessions
Unthanks - In Winter
Joan Armatrading - How Did This Happen and What Does It Mean?
Oïmiakon - Comptoir Des Vanites
Rosie Lowe - Lover, Other
Emily Burns - Die Happy
related articles |
: Interview (2023 |
![]() |
Lisa Torem finds that a press event held during a rehearsal break reveals the true spirit of the All-Starr Band, helmed by iconic drummer/singer-songwriter Ringo Starr, prior to their 2023 US tour. |
: Favoutite Album (2021) |
George Martin: Feature (2019) |
Bootleg Beatles: Interview (2019) |
Liverpool Legends: Favoutite Album (2015) |
Cynthia Lennon: Profile (2015) |
Cynthia Lennon: Profile (2015) |
Cynthia Lennon: Profile (2015) |
Louise Harrison: Profile (2015) |
George Harrison: Interview (2015) |
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart